Bhubaneswar, March 17: Glowing tributes were paid to the memory of
eminent poet and administrator Padmabhushan Ramakant Rath, who passed
away yesterday, at the Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University here on
Monday.
A large number of poets, writers and critics assembled at a condolence
meeting organised by the SOA Centre for Preservation, Propagation and
Restoration of Ancient Culture and Heritage of India (PPRACHIN) to pay tributes
to the poet who had created a unique space for himself in the country’s literary
firmament.
Prof. Gayatribala Panda, Head of PPRACHIN, said that late Rath had
provided a new direction to Odia poetry while ‘Sri Radha’, regarded as a modern
classic, was his unique creation.
Mr. Ashwini Kumar Mishra, poet and former Secretary of Odisha Sahitya
Akademi, said that late Rath’s style was so unique that it made him stand apart
from other litterateurs.
Mr. Ashutosh Parida, poet, said that late Rath was known for his keen sense
of observation and clarity of vision. “Love and death were two of his main themes
both of which had a ring of mystery around them,” he said.
Another poet, Ms. Aparna Mohanty narrated her personal experiences with
late Rath and his family.
Writer Dr. Asit Mohanty narrated the humorous aspects and dwelt on the
philosophy of life of late Rath while Mr. Khirod Parida described him as ‘a poet
with empathy’.
Late Rath had been honoured with the ‘SOA Literary Award’ at the second
SOA Literary Festival on November 26, 2023.
The gathering included Mr. Santosh Kumar Rath, Mr. Phanindra Bhushan
Nanda, Mr. Gouranga Charan Dash, Mr. Subhas Satpathy, Mr. Pradipta Kumar
Panda, Mr. Banoj Tripathy and Mr. Mihir Kumar Sahu.